At 51 years and 126 days, Mukesh Kumar becomes oldest Asian Tour winner

Mukesh Kumar celebrates after winning the Panasonic Open. (Source: Express Photo)

Thirty-two years after turning professional, Mukesh Kumar has finally won an international title. The jovial, highly-respected veteran has been a fierce competitor on the domestic tour, but continental success eluded him.

However, he got the monkey off his back by completing a wire-to-wire win at the weather-shortened Panasonic Open at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday, thus claiming his maiden Asian Tour title. Kumar, who had a two-shot advantage heading into the final round, closed with a two-under-par 70 for a winning total of 10-under-par 206 at the $400,000 Asian Tour event, which was earlier reduced to 54 holes due to fog disruptions.

Kumar’s victory, which helped him earn $72,000, made him the oldest winner on the Asian Tour at the age of 51 years and 126 days. Indian duo Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid Khan closed with matching 68s to share second place at the venerable Delhi Golf Club.

Kumar, who has won 123 titles on the PGTI circuit, was ecstatic to savour his career’s biggest win at the Panasonic Open. “I am very proud of myself. I have waited 32 years for this. This means a lot to me. It feels different from the 123 wins that I have had on the domestic Tour before. I have been wanting to achieve this,” said Kumar.